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The Association of Writers in Iran has called for a protest and sit-in in front of the Evin Prison in Tehran tomorrow to show their solidarity with political prisoners. This happens on June 14, from 4–6 pm. The families of political prisoners and student associations are also joining in.

The number of political prisoners on hunger strike has reached 17. Some of them like Mr. Naser Zarafshan are on their 6th day of a hunger strike and his health is deteriorating. Mr. Zarafshan has been in prison for three years. Among the political prisoners on hunger strike is journalist Akbar Ganji who just returned to prison to commence his 6th year in prison.

Last time (earlier in June) a group of family members protested in front of Evin prisoners they were arrested and jailed. Among those arrested was Mr. Zarafsahn‘s wife, Homa Zarafshan.

Support for these brave political prisoners is coming from many different political directions. Three days ago, Reza Pahlavi, the oldest son of the late Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, announced he will hold a three-day fast on behalf of political prisoners in Iran to show his support for their cause. Ironically, his father was ousted for many reasons but most importantly for having many political prisoners in his own prisons.

The only candidate speaking about the political prisoners has been Mr. Moin. Just yesterday, the spokeswoman for Mostafa Moin told reporters that if Moin gets elected, he will free political prisoners. But will he really have the power to do so?
Mon, Jun 13, 2005_________________The Sun Is Rising In The West!Soon It Will Shine on All of Iran!

Last edited by Rasker on Wed Jun 15, 2005 10:10 am; edited 1 time in total

LONDON, June 15 (IranMania) - A sit-in by a number of political activists and relatives of imprisoned lawyer, Nasser Zarafshan, held in front of Evin Prison entered its sixth day on Tuesday, according to Iran Daily.

Zarafshan's wife told IRNA that her husband's physical health has been deteriorating in recent months, that he has lost a considerable amount of weight and a recent check-up showed his condition is critical.

"We are still waiting for the judiciary to grant him leave for medical treatment," she said.

Protesters held placards reading "Zarafshan Should Be Released" and "Zarafshan Is Still in Prison, While Others Are Freed".

Arrested in 2002 on charges of unveiling government secrets, Zarafshan was sentenced to five years in prison and 70 lashes.

Zarafshan represented the families of victims of the 1998 serial murders.

Lawyer of the imprisoned political activist also told ILNA on Monday that his client's health is rapidly deteriorating.

Mohammad Sharif said he became aware of Zarafshan's poor health after visiting him in prison on Monday.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Police on Wednesday broke up a protest outside Tehran's Evin prison by more than 100 people demanding the release of all political prisoners, one of the organisers said.

Seifollah Akbari told Reuters police with batons had beaten several demonstrators and detained two women and a man.

"Police violently attacked the demonstrators and told them to leave immediately," he said.

It was not immediately possible to verify Akbari's account.

Earlier in the day international human rights groups urged Iran to release all political prisoners, including two they said were being denied medical care in Evin prison.

The groups, joined by Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi, said the judiciary had over-ruled a request from prison authorities for two jailed critics of the government, Akbar Ganji and Nasser Zarafshan, to receive medical treatment.

"Ganji is in prison just for peacefully criticising the authorities," said Ebadi, who is Ganji's lawyer, in a joint statement with the rights groups. "His mistreatment in prison is a serious violation of fundamental human rights standards."

There was no immediate official response to the statement, issued in New York two days before Iran's presidential election.

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the International Federation for Human Rights and Reporters Without Borders listed Reza Alijani, Taqi Rahmani and Hoda Saber as other "prisoners of conscience" unjustly imprisoned in the Islamic republic.

Ganji is a journalist detained in 2000 for linking officials to political murders and later sentenced to six years in prison.

He was allowed to leave Evin prison on May 30 for medical care, but was back behind bars on June 10 before he could get treatment for asthma and back pains, the groups said.

"Now that I have gone back to prison, I will resume my hunger strike," he said as he returned to prison. "All political prisoners must be freed."

Iran has a dismal record on press freedoms, closing more than 100 liberal publications and jailing several journalists in a concerted crackdown on reformist media since 2000.

Zarafshan is a lawyer who represented the families of murdered dissidents. In 2002, he was sentenced by a military court to five years in prison. The rights groups said he suffers from kidney disease, but was getting no specialist treatment.

"Zarafshan also started a hunger strike on June 7 and his health is reportedly deteriorating," the statement said._________________The Sun Is Rising In The West!Soon It Will Shine on All of Iran!